625,000 Gazan Children Deprived of Education Amid Ongoing Israeli Assault

News Desk 

Islamabad: More than 625,000 children in besieged Gaza have not attended school for over eight months due to ongoing Israeli attacks on the densely populated enclave, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

In a social media post, the UN agency noted there were 300,000 UNRWA students before the Israeli assault on Gaza.

“Play and learning activities provided by UNRWA teams are critical in preparing children to get back to school and restore their right to education,” the agency stated, sharing photos of UNRWA staff working with Gazan children.

The Israeli military has been conducting continuous attacks for nearly nine months, resulting in the deaths of at least 15,000 children, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Israel has also imposed a total blockade on Gaza, restricting the flow of food, clean water, and medicine to the devastated area.

The Israeli military faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which recently ordered Tel Aviv to cease its offensive in Rafah immediately.

Last Saturday, the Gaza Government’s Media Office reported that at least 800,000 students across various educational levels have been deprived of their right to education.

The office highlighted that approximately 40,000 high school students are unable to take their exams this year, jeopardizing their chances for higher education both locally and internationally.

“40,000 high school students from various branches will not be able to participate in this year’s session of high school exams, representing an unprecedented violation that threatens their future and undermines their chances of enrolling in local and international universities and colleges,” the media office stated.

The media office also reported that “85 percent of educational facilities are out of service due to direct and deliberate targeting, posing a significant challenge to efforts to resume the educational process after the war ends.”

 Plans have been implemented to make up for the academic year, ensuring that students retain the essential concepts and skills necessary for their continued learning.